Can Assessment of Rheological Properties of Whole Blood and Plasma Be Useful in the Diagnosis of Tinnitus? A Pilot Study.

Tinnitus is a sensation of ringing in the ears in the absence of any physical source in the environment. Between 9-35% of adults experience some form of tinnitus. Common causes of tinnitus include noise, head injury, ototoxic substances, as well as disorders of blood and blood vessels. Vascular causes include: head-neck tumours, turbulent blood flow, problems with blood supply and inner ear cell damage. The aspect of rheology in terms of tinnitus has not been described yet. In the present study, which comprised 12 patients aged 30 to 74 years presenting with tinnitus, rheological properties of whole blood and plasma were assessed. All the subjects underwent audiological and neurological evaluation. The Quemada model was used to describe the variability of red blood cell shape, as well as their tendency to form aggregates. On the basis of the experimental study, statistically different results of haemorheological measurements were observed in the evaluated group in comparison to a reference group.